Report: Conference EMN Netherlands on labour migration towards The Netherlands and the EU, 11 June 2025

At the annual conference of EMN Netherlands on 11 June, national and European experts convened to explore the role labour migration might play in addressing labour market shortages, considering both the benefits and the challenges it brings. Case studies from other EU Member States showed different national approaches to managing labour migration. The dialogue centred around the diverse choices that might shape the future of labour migration policies.

- Read the full report of the conference -

Programme in brief

• Jan-Willem Schaper, Deputy Director-General (DG) of Strategy, Implementation Policy and Legal Affairs at the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), opened the conference together with Kristel van Hees, Deputy Director for Labour Relations at the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. They presented the Dutch policy perspective on labour migration.
• The EMN presented the preliminary results of the EMN Study ‘Labour migration in times of labour shortages’, with a comparative analysis of labour migration policies in all participating EU Member States.
• Policy experts from Finland, Germany and Greece presented selected case studies of their national labour migration policies. 
  An interactive session in which perspectives and experiences of different stakeholders from the labour market, including employers and the Netherlands Trade Union Confederation (FNV), were shared.
• During the interactive session ‘Stakeholders’ perspectives, practical considerations and experiences’ the Trade Union Confederation (FNV) and AgroCare, one of the largest tomato growers in Europe discussed the topics via an audience poll.
• A panel discussion in which experts from various backgrounds, including the OECD, the Dutch Advisory Council on Migration, the European Commission,  and the Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR), explored the possible future approaches to labour migration policy as a strategic solution to shortages, while assessing its long-term societal impacts.

- Read the full report of the conference -

Photo's: Kick Smeets